Volunteers continue to define the character of Naperville as a friendly, "can-do" community, and they include people who live or work here, and who serve in a variety of ways, from behind the scenes to the most visible leadership roles.

On April 28, the Naperville Jaycees honored eight individuals for outstanding service to the community at their 38th annual Distinguished Service Awards celebration. The Naperville Park District's Information Technology Manager Omar Sandoval received the 2016 Distinguished Service Award in the Public Employee category.

The Jaycees' write up of Sandoval's accomplishments cited his willingness to pitch in wherever needed to help with a variety of community events and projects, including the 2015 Healing Field, Last Fling, the Bike Bald Spinathon, and TEDxNaperville.

Joining Naperville Park District staff in 2008, Sandoval started as a part-time IT help desk assistant, then quickly moved into a full time position, then to network engineer, and in 2014 was promoted to IT manager. In his current role as IT manager Sandoval manages the technology needs of the Park District's 16 satellite facilities and enthusiastically brings new ideas to the table to better serve the community, such as the District's first mobile app released in late April 2016.

Omar Sandoval is a 2014 graduate of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute and has since become co-chair of the Leadership Institute's alumni committee, organizing ongoing events for Institute alumni.

"I'm inspired to volunteer because I can see that it's making a difference for our local not-for-profit organizations," explained Sandoval. "My hours of service can free up resources to multiply the impact of an event like Last Fling," he added.

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